London 1908 - The Court of Honor
By day it is a vision of dazzling whiteness, with its tiled court and plashing cool waters, its pointed arcades and lattice windows. At night it is equally effective with its thousands of lights and the rainbow colours of the cascade.
~Robert W. Carden,
Architectural Review July, 1908
Despite varied opinions about the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition, an event designed to confirm the friendly relations between France and Britain as described in the Entente Cordiale, there was collective praise for the Court of Honor. The full grandeur of the Court can hardly be felt by an image. As visitors entered from the main gates of Wood Lane, the Court of Honor was their first impression of the fair. The largest in Britain to date, the Exhibition occupied 140 acres of Shepherd's Bush in west London, an area now known as the "White City" due to the white plaster of the fair's structures.
The court surrounds an artificial lake measuring 400 by 100 feet and crossed in the middle by an ornamental bridge. Various small pavilions protrude into the water, each with an octagonal plan and topped with a dome. These wooden framed structures are covered in layers of canvas and plaster. Artists molded the delicate lattice work, sculpture, and detail with additional plaster. The bridge and pavilions of the Court are influenced by Oriental architecture, an oddity for a Franco-British Exhibition. Matching buildings surround the lake on four sides. The large structure toward the upper right-hand corner of the postcard is mirrored by a pendant building on the opposite side of the lake. These were the Palaces of French and British Industries. At the far end of the lake and obstructed from view in the postc...
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...ions and events. "White City" became a pleasure/amusement park, and the stadium's functions ranged from training Olympic athletes to the site for greyhound dog races. The stadium has since been demolished, and the fair grounds now hold the Daytona Raceway, an amusement "karting track," as well as the administrative buildings for the British Broadcasting Company (Grose).
Works Cited
Carden, Robert W. "The Franco-British Exhibition." Architectural Review 1908 July, v. 24, p. [32]-37 ; 1908 Sept., p. [108]-111
Dumas, F.G. The Franco-British Exhibition: illustrated review. Chatto & Windus. London, England. 1908.
Greenhalgh, Paul. "Art, politics and society at the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908." Art History 1985 Dec., v.8, no.4, p.434-452
Grose, Tim. "White City Stadium." UK Running Track Directory, 2001. (http://www.runtrackdir.com/uk/london(wc).htm
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James, Julia H. L. Palaces and courts of the exposition Blair Murdock Co. Publisher, San Francisco 1915.
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Today, the people of France, view Versailles has a cherished, historical monument, and a part of the French culture that reflects the past. To the rest of the world, visitors view Versailles as a peek at the excessive and luxurious lifestyle of the French aristocrats and royalty. Regardless of the perspective, there is no question that the construction of the palace and the grounds are an amazing architectural accomplishment. The Palace of Versailles, one of the most well-known landmarks in the world today, sets an example for people all over the world. It is one of France's many national monuments. Playing some of the biggest roles in governmental and historical functions, Versailles has maintained to keep its elaborate construction with beautiful designs and a key influence on French culture.
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Barnett, Peter. “The French Revolution in Art”. ArtId, January 7th 2009. Web. 5th May 2013.
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